Merry Christmas: Reflection on Mother Mary and The Child Jesus

It’s totally natural for someone with a mature spiritual life to have ups and downs, to have many lessons learned, and to reflect on those lessons during times like Christmas. There are several lessons I learned that I would like to impart on you this Christmas season. Some are theological, and some are tidings of comfort and joy.

Virgin as Mother

The Virgin Mary will act as any mother would– she acted as my mother, and I see so many comparisons between the Blessed Mother and my own earthly one. Mother knows what’s wrong, and Mother can help, if you let her. That goes for your earthly mother, as well as your Heavenly Mother. Be obedient to your mother on earth in all things save sin.

Be obedient to Mother Mary. As I learned the hard way, she knows best. She knows how to bring Jesus to you, if you let her. She knows when to be gentle and when to be harsh, like any good mother does – and she’s the best mother, because of her Immaculate Conception. And as a mother, she wanted to give me comfort, give me peace– and by me, I mean all of us.

The Infant Jesus

Think about these things:

Now for the star of the show, Jesus. We all know he humbled himself into his human body: where he was born, his diaper was changed, his mother held him, fed him and played with him.

It never really sank in for me until recently that Christ was a baby. Think of a baby in your own life. He was so fragile. And he had cute chubby baby fingers. Do you think Mary played “This little piggy” on our Christ’s toes (or the first century version of it)? Do you think Mary cried late at night after she put her Child, the living God made flesh, to bed, knowing He would complete the prophecies she read all about and die a gruesome death? Yes, Mary did know.

According to the Protoevangelium of James, Mary was a Temple child. She would have been sent to the temple for an adolescent life of prayer and work. She would have taken a lifelong vow of virginity (which we all know as Catholics, she upheld). She would have taken that opportunity to be well read and educated throughout her youth. At puberty, the priests of the temple helped her parents find her a husband, then she was sent to live with her parents until she was ready to marry. All of this means: she read the scrolls. She knew the prophecies. She therefore knew when she gave her Fiat that this child would die the type of death He did.

Mary would have held her Child in her arms, knowing one day she would have to hold His dead and broken body in her arms. She held her Child throughout His life, she played with Him and taught Him and watched Him go about His ministry, knowing just as He did how it would all end. I’m sure she kept the end in mind throughout the entirety of His life.

I also believe Jesus came to us as a Child, rather than as an adult, or even the Crucified Christ or glorified Christ because we are in a fragile place and we needed something a bit softer, a bit gentler at the time. Like Mary, Christ knows in His infinite Wisdom exactly what we need at any point in time. Mary and Jesus did all of this, both 2000 years ago, and in my own life. They give peace, comfort, and strength to handle our lives. They sacrificed their own lives (Mary gave her life to be a mother, Jesus gave his Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity) for our lives.

This season, remember that Mary will bring Christ to you if you ask. And when she does, Christ will bring you peace, comfort, and strength to give your own Fiat.

I, on the other hand, can only give you prayers and tidings of peace, comfort, and strength. Tidings of comfort and joy!

Holy Family, Pray for us

Our Lady, Pray for us

Mother of God, Pray for us

Mediatrix, Pray for us

Child Jesus, Hear our prayers.

Merry Christmas!